Kundapur, Feb 21, 2016: Villagers of Golikadu and Shamihaklu, most of them belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes boycotted the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections held on February 20, Saturday in protest against the failure of the authorities to provide basic amenities to the villages.

Though villagers had even put up banners announcing their decision to boycott the polls, the police had removed them.

Local police officials including Circle Inspector PM Diwaker tried to convince the villagers to cast their votes, but it turned out to be a futile exercise.

The SC, ST community people in Mutluppady and Moodudarkhas in Andaru of Karkala taluk, considered a Naxal affected area, also boycotted the election on similar grounds.